Kristyn J Russell

Jump To: Leadership | Strategic Messaging | Communication Tools | Synod Listening Sessions | College & Young Professionals | Blessed Sacrament Parish

During my time at Michigan State University, I took two leadership-focused courses: Organizational Leadership and Catalyst in the C-Suite. Both classes challenged me to develop my own leadership qualities while reflecting on the leaders I admire. As part of the coursework, I wrote blogs that integrated course readings with my personal experiences.

At Blessed Sacrament, I implemented the strategic approach outlined in the above brief to successfully launch two new communication tools: Evangelus, an email and text messaging system, and a rebranded parish website. These initiatives achieved notable results, including maintaining a >40% open rate for messages and a >15% click-through rate. The website redesign was guided by feedback from a parish-wide survey, ensuring it addressed the community's needs and preferences. The final product has since been recognized by Diocesan officials as an exemplar of effective website design. Below you will find links to the website, and an example of an email sent to the community.

Communication

As the parish coordinator for Blessed Sacrament during the 2022 Synodal process, I took on the rewarding challenge of guiding and engaging our parish community. This involved an in-depth study of synod documents and the creation of a strategic communication plan to inspire parishioners to actively participate in the Synodal journey.

Below, you’ll find examples of two documents I crafted to help parishioners better understand the Synodal process—excerpts of these are featured on the Diocese of Saginaw’s website. Additionally, I designed social media images using the media kit provided for the synod, ensuring the messages were visually appealing and accessible across platforms.

Listening, Synthesizing, Goal-Setting

In March 2022, I organized and facilitated nine listening sessions, both in-person and online, as part of the Synodal process. These sessions gathered 184 responses, reflecting participants' feelings, stories, and beliefs about the Catholic Church at parish, diocesan, and global levels.

I analyzed and synthesized the feedback to create a comprehensive summary document, which was submitted to both the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw and the General Secretariat of the Synod in Vatican City. Additionally, I crafted a separate document for the parish, incorporating "lighthouse goals" to guide efforts in becoming a more hospitable and welcoming community.

Below are examples of the final documents I prepared, showcasing my ability to facilitate meaningful dialogue, synthesize complex feedback, and translate insights into actionable plans.

CYPM emerged to fill a vital need: creating a welcoming space for young professionals to connect, grow in their faith, and build community. Despite the presence of a major corporation that regularly attracts new talent to our city, CYPM hasn’t seen the expected engagement from this demographic.

To bridge the gap, we’ve embraced the power of social media to extend our reach. By integrating compelling images, quotes, and videos, we aim to inspire and provide these young adults—many of whom are not yet part of the ministry—a chance to experience the transcendent.

Below, you'll find a sample video I created to inspire and promote the group, alongside social media images that reflect our mission and vision.

At Blessed Sacrament, we strive to connect with our community through a variety of communication platforms, including social media, email newsletters, an engaging website, and a weekly bulletin. Our efforts are aimed at meeting people wherever they are in their spiritual journey and daily lives.

From social media posts created to honor the saint of the day, designed to inspire and engage to visuals, such as those displayed on the TV screens in the Parish Center and church, our goal is to help deepen that connection of faith.

Below, you’ll see a selection of materials showcasing my work, including images for church screens, social media graphics, podcast hosting and production, and a video invitation I crafted to encourage participation in our Christmas Mass celebrations.